Heat baffle clip shield

ABSTRACT

A baffle clip shield for protecting a clip attaching a baffle to a fuel tank to protect the fuel tank from heat from an exhaust chamber located near the fuel tank is disclosed. The clip shield includes a spring foot extending from the rear side of the clip shield, the spring foot having a hook distal end that is pushed radially inward by the inclined wall as the clip shield is installed, the hook distal end of the spring foot being insertable into a hole in the inclined wall of the clip receiving portion, the hook distal end moving radially outward when installed in the hold, the hook distal end creating an interference fit with the inclined wall to prevent removal of the clip shield.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments described herein relate to the field of heat baffles forfuel tanks of a motor vehicle, and more particularly heat shields forheat baffle clips.

BACKGROUND

Typically, a motor vehicle includes a fuel tank for holding fuel such asgasoline or diesel fuel, and an exhaust system, which includes anexhaust pipe and at least one exhaust chamber for carrying, treating,and muffling exhaust gases from the engine to a tail pipe for emission.Due to the high temperatures of exhaust from a gasoline engine, a metalheat baffle may be attached to the fuel tank to protect the fuel tankfrom the heat of the exhaust system by a series of plastic clips.However, a need to protect the clips from the exhaust heat has also beenidentified.

APPLICATION SUMMARY

The features and advantages described in the specification are not allinclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantageswill be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of thedrawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted thatthe language used in the specification has been principally selected forreadability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selectedto delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.

According to one aspect, a fuel tank for a motor vehicle includes a fueltank body, a baffle to protect the fuel tank body from heat from anexhaust chamber located near the fuel tank body, a clip for attachingthe baffle to the fuel tank body, the clip being inserted through a holein the baffle and received by a clip receiver in the fuel tank body, anda clip shield secured to the baffle to cover the clip. The baffleincludes a clip receiving portion formed in the baffle having agenerally frusto-conical shape, the clip receiving portion having a baseportion recessed from a planar surface of the baffle, the clip receivingportion having a hole in the base through which a clip is inserted, andan inclined wall extending from the base to the planar surface of thebaffle, the inclined wall having a first radius about an axisperpendicular to the base at the base and a second radius about the axisat the planar surface, the second radius being greater than the firstradius, the inclined wall having a hole between the planar surface andclip receiving portion. The clip shield includes a solid body having aradius substantially similar to the second radius of the clip receivingportion, a front side facing the exhaust chamber, and a rear side facingthe baffle, and a spring foot extending from the rear side of the clipshield, the spring foot having a hook distal end that is pushed radiallyinward by the inclined wall as the clip shield is installed, the hookdistal end of the spring foot being insertable into the hole in theinclined wall of the clip receiving portion, the hook distal end movingradially outward when installed in the hold, the hook distal endcreating an interference fit with the inclined wall to prevent removalof the clip shield.

According to another aspect, a baffle for protecting a fuel tank of amotor vehicle from heat from an exhaust chamber of the motor vehicleincludes a baffle body, a clip receiving portion formed in the bafflebody having a generally frusto-conical shape, the clip receiving portionhaving a base portion recessed from a planar surface of the baffle, theclip receiving portion having a hole in the base through which a clip isinserted, and an inclined wall extending from the base to the planarsurface of the baffle body, the inclined wall having a first radiusabout an axis perpendicular to the base at the base and a second radiusabout the axis at the planar surface, the second radius being greaterthan the first radius, the inclined wall having a hole between theplanar surface and clip receiving portion. The baffle further includes aclip for attaching the baffle to the fuel tank body, the clip beinginserted through a hole in the baffle and received by a clip receiver inthe fuel tank body, and a clip shield secured to the baffle body tocover the clip. The clip shield includes a solid body having a radiussubstantially similar to the second radius of the clip receivingportion, a front side facing the exhaust chamber, and a rear side facingthe baffle body, and a spring foot extending from the rear side of theclip shield, the spring foot having a hook distal end that is pushedradially inward by the inclined wall as the clip shield is installed,the hook distal end of the spring foot being insertable into the hole inthe inclined wall of the clip receiving portion, the hook distal endflexing radially outward when installed in the hold, the hook distal endcreating an interference fit with the inclined wall to prevent removalof the clip shield.

According to yet another aspect, a baffle clip shield for protecting aclip attaching a baffle to a fuel tank to protect the fuel tank fromheat from an exhaust chamber located near the fuel tank, a clipreceiving portion formed in the baffle having a generally frusto-conicalshape, the clip receiving portion having a base portion recessed from aplanar surface of the baffle, the clip receiving portion having a holein the base through which a clip is inserted, and an inclined wallextending from the base to the planar surface of the baffle, theinclined wall having a first radius about an axis perpendicular to thebase at the base and a second radius about the axis at the planarsurface, the second radius being greater than the first radius, theinclined wall having a hole between the planar surface and clipreceiving portion includes a solid body having a radius substantiallysimilar to the second radius of the clip receiving portion, a front sidefacing the exhaust chamber, and a rear side facing the baffle, and aspring foot extending from the rear side of the clip shield, the springfoot having a hook distal end that is pushed radially inward by theinclined wall as the clip shield is installed, the hook distal end ofthe spring foot being insertable into the hole in the inclined wall ofthe clip receiving portion, the hook distal end moving radially outwardwhen installed in the hold, the hook distal end creating an interferencefit with the inclined wall to prevent removal of the clip shield.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a motor vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a close up of a portion of FIG. 1 showing a heat baffle.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a heat baffle.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a heat baffle with clip heat shields installed.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section along line A-A in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top view of clip heat shield.

FIG. 7 is a close up of a portion of FIG. 5.

The figures depict various embodiments of the embodiments for purposesof illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize fromthe following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structuresand methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing fromthe principles of the embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the bottom 102 of a motor vehicle 100. Themotor vehicle includes a fuel tank 104 for holding fuel such as gasolineor diesel fuel, and an exhaust system 106, which includes an exhaustpipe 108 and at least one exhaust chamber 110 for carrying, treating,and muffling exhaust gases from the engine (not shown) to a tail pipe112 for emission. Due to the high temperatures (900-1400° F.) of exhaustfrom a gasoline engine, a metal heat baffle 114 is attached to the fueltank 104 to protect the fuel tank 104 from the heat of the exhaustsystem 106.

FIG. 2 is a close up bottom view of the heat baffle 114 that is attachedto the fuel tank 104 to protect the fuel tank 104 from the heat of theneighboring exhaust chamber 110. The heat baffle 114 shields the fueltank 104 from the heat of the exhaust chamber 110, and dissipates theheat over a greater surface area to prevent damage to the fuel tank 104.As shown in FIG. 2, the heat baffle 114 is connected to the fuel tank104 by a series of clips 200 that are insertable in one directionthrough a hole 300 in the heat baffle 104 into a clip receiver 302 inthe fuel tank 104, illustrated in FIG. 3.

It is preferable that these clips 200 are made of plastic to maximizeperformance. However, the plastic clips 200 may fail if exposed to theexhaust heat. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, clips 200 may be covered bya heat clip shield 400 that covers the clips 200 of FIG. 3.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3-7, a frusto-coninical recess 304 is formed inthe heat baffle 114. At the base 306 of the recess 304 is the hole 300through which the clip 200 is inserted into the clip receiver 302 in thefuel tank 104. A flat head 508 of the clip 200 holds the base 306 of theheat baffle 114 to the fuel tank 104.

Each recess 304 of the heat baffle 114 includes a wall 308. The wall 308of the recess 304 is generally circular and inclined, with a radius r₁about an axis a₁ at the base 306, and a radius r₂ about the axis a₁ atthe planar surface 310 of the heat baffle 114, such that r₂ is greaterthan r₁.

In the wall 308 of the recess are at least one (1), and preferably four(4) holes 312 for receiving the distal ends 504 of spring feet 502 ofthe clip heat shield 400. While the embodiment shown has four (4) holes312, more or fewer holes may be provided based upon designconsiderations and performance requirements. The spring feet 502 extendfrom the baffle side 510 of a body 506 of the clip heat shield 400. Inthe embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3-7, the body 506 is planar,although the body 506 may take additional shapes as design dictates. Thedistal ends 504 have an outward hook 512 that engages the wall 308 ofthe recess 304 as the clip heat shield 400 is inserted. As inserted, thespring feet 502 are pushed inwardly until such time as the spring feet502 enter the holes 312 in the wall 308. At that time, the spring feet502 spring outward, illustrated by arrow A in FIG. 7, and the hooks 512at the distal ends 504 engage a rear side 516 of the wall 308, creatingan interference fit that holds the clip heat shield 400 in place. Theheat clip shield 400 is not unintentionally removable during operationof the motor vehicle 100, thereby ensuring the clips 200 are protectedfrom heat from the exhaust system 106. The clips 200 may be removed byservice technician by inwardly actuating the spring feet 502 to removeengagement of the hooks 512 with the rear side 516 of the wall 308,thereby allowing the spring feet 502 to be removed from the holes 312.In an alternate embodiment, the holes 312 may be L-shaped to facilitateentry and removal of the spring feet 502 from the longer part of theholes 312, and the clip heat shield 400 is slightly rotated so thespring feet are in the shorter part of the holes 312 to prevent removalfrom the holes 312.

FIG. 6 is a view of the clip heat shield 400 from the exhaust side 600of the body 506. The clip heat shield 400 may be constructed of anysufficiently heat resistant material, such as heat resistant plastic ormetal.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment”means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiments is included in at least oneembodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “anembodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarilyall referring to the same embodiment.

In addition, the language used in the specification has been principallyselected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not havebeen selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments is intended to beillustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the embodiments, whichis set forth in the claims.

While particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated anddescribed herein, it is to be understood that the embodiments are notlimited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein andthat various modifications, changes, and variations may be made in thearrangement, operation, and details of the methods and apparatuses ofthe embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of theembodiments as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fuel tank for a motor vehicle, comprising: afuel tank body; a baffle to protect the fuel tank body from heat from anexhaust chamber located near the fuel tank body, the baffle comprising:a clip receiving portion formed in the baffle having a generallyfrusto-conical shape, the clip receiving portion having a base portionrecessed from a planar surface of the baffle, the clip receiving portionhaving a hole in the base through which a clip is inserted; and aninclined wall extending from the base to the planar surface of thebaffle, the inclined wall having a first radius about an axisperpendicular to the base at the base and a second radius about the axisat the planar surface, the second radius being greater than the firstradius, the inclined wall having a hole between the planar surface andclip receiving portion; a clip for attaching the baffle to the fuel tankbody, the clip being inserted through a hole in the baffle and receivedby a clip receiver in the fuel tank body; and a clip shield secured tothe baffle to cover the clip, the clip shield comprising: a solid bodyhaving a radius substantially similar to the second radius of the clipreceiving portion, a front side facing the exhaust chamber, and a rearside facing the baffle; and a spring foot extending from the rear sideof the clip shield, the spring foot having a hook distal end that ispushed radially inward by the inclined wall as the clip shield isinstalled, the hook distal end of the spring foot being insertable intothe hole in the inclined wall of the clip receiving portion, the hookdistal end moving radially outward when installed in the hold, the hookdistal end creating an interference fit with the inclined wall toprevent unintentional removal of the clip shield.
 2. The fuel tank ofclaim 1 further comprising: second, third, and fourth holes in theinclined wall of the baffle; and second, third, and fourth spring feetextending from the rear side of the clip shield, the second, third, andfourth spring feet each having a hook distal end that is pushed radiallyinward by the inclined wall as the clip shield is installed, the hookdistal end of each of the second, third, and fourth spring feet beinginsertable into the second, third, and fourth holes in the inclined wallof the baffle.
 3. The fuel tank of claim 2 wherein the baffle iscomprised of metal.
 4. The fuel tank of claim 3 wherein the clip iscomprised of plastic.
 5. The fuel tank of claim 1 wherein the solid bodyof the clip shield is planar.
 6. A baffle for protecting a fuel tank ofa motor vehicle from heat from an exhaust chamber of the motor vehicle,comprising: a baffle body; a clip receiving portion formed in the bafflebody having a generally frusto-conical shape, the clip receiving portionhaving a base portion recessed from a planar surface of the baffle, theclip receiving portion having a hole in the base through which a clip isinserted and an inclined wall extending from the base to the planarsurface of the baffle body, the inclined wall having a first radiusabout an axis perpendicular to the base at the base and a second radiusabout the axis at the planar surface, the second radius being greaterthan the first radius, the inclined wall having a hole between theplanar surface and clip receiving portion; a clip for attaching thebaffle to the fuel tank body, the clip being inserted through a hole inthe baffle and received by a clip receiver in the fuel tank body; and aclip shield secured to the baffle body to cover the clip, the clipshield comprising: a solid body having a radius substantially similar tothe second radius of the clip receiving portion, a front side facing theexhaust chamber, and a rear side facing the baffle body; and a springfoot extending from the rear side of the clip shield, the spring foothaving a hook distal end that is pushed radially inward by the inclinedwall as the clip shield is installed, the hook distal end of the springfoot being insertable into the hole in the inclined wall of the clipreceiving portion, the hook distal end flexing radially outward wheninstalled in the hold, the hook distal end creating an interference fitwith the inclined wall to prevent unintentional removal of the clipshield.
 7. The baffle of claim 6 further comprising: second, third, andfourth holes in the inclined wall of the baffle body; and second, third,and fourth spring feet extending from the rear side of the clip shield,the second, third, and fourth spring feet each having a hook distal endthat is pushed radially inward by the inclined wall as the clip shieldis installed, the hook distal end of each of the second, third, andfourth spring feet being insertable into the second, third, and fourthholes in the inclined wall of the baffle body.
 8. The baffle of claim 7wherein the baffle body is comprised of metal.
 9. The baffle of claim 8wherein the clip is comprised of plastic.
 10. The baffle of claim 6wherein the solid body of the clip shield is planar.
 11. A baffle clipshield for protecting a clip attaching a baffle to a fuel tank toprotect the fuel tank from heat from an exhaust chamber located near thefuel tank, a clip receiving portion formed in the baffle having agenerally frusto-conical shape, the clip receiving portion having a baseportion recessed from a planar surface of the baffle, the clip receivingportion having a hole in the base through which a clip is inserted, andan inclined wall extending from the base to the planar surface of thebaffle, the inclined wall having a first radius about an axisperpendicular to the base at the base and a second radius about the axisat the planar surface, the second radius being greater than the firstradius, the inclined wall having a hole between the planar surface andclip receiving portion, the baffle clip shield comprising: a solid bodyhaving a radius substantially similar to the second radius of the clipreceiving portion, a front side facing the exhaust chamber, and a rearside facing the baffle; and a spring foot extending from the rear sideof the clip shield, the spring foot having a hook distal end that ispushed radially inward by the inclined wall as the clip shield isinstalled, the hook distal end of the spring foot being insertable intothe hole in the inclined wall of the clip receiving portion, the hookdistal end moving radially outward when installed in the hold, the hookdistal end creating an interference fit with the inclined wall toprevent unintentional removal of the clip shield.
 12. The baffle clipshield of claim 11 wherein the baffle has second, third, and fourthholes in the inclined wall of the baffle, further comprising: second,third, and fourth spring feet extending from the rear side of the clipshield, the second, third, and fourth spring feet each having a hookdistal end that is pushed radially inward by the inclined wall as theclip shield is installed, the hook distal end of each of the second,third, and fourth spring feet being insertable into the second, third,and fourth holes in the inclined wall of the baffle.
 13. The baffle clipshield of claim 12 wherein the baffle is comprised of metal.
 14. Thebaffle clip shield of claim 13 wherein the clip is comprised of plastic.15. The baffle clip shield of claim 11 wherein the solid body is planar.